Thursday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Matchup |
| Rochester | Lost, 12-11 | @ Buffalo, 1:05 p.m. | Parker (0-0, 0.00) vs. Tiedemann (0-1, 6.23) |
| Harrisburg | Lost, 9-8 | @ Altoona, 6:30 p.m. | Alvarez (0-0, 0.00) vs. Chandler (0-0, 5.40) |
| Wilmington | Won, 6-2 | @ Aberdeen, 7:05 p.m. | Lara (1-0, 0.00) vs. Weston (0-0, 3.00) |
| Fredericksburg | Won, 14-8 | @ Lynchburg, 6:30 p.m. | Agostini (1st start of ’24) vs. Clemmey (0-1, 13.50) |
Buffalo 12 Rochester 11
• Gsellman 3IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 1BB, 2K
• Cate (L, 0-1) ⅔ IP, 6H, 9R, 9ER, 2BB, 0K, 2HR, HBP, WP
• Baker 1-2, R, 3BB, 2RBI, SB
• Wood 2-4, 2R, 2BB, RBI
• Yepez 2-5, R, BB, 2B, 2RBI
• Mejia 2-5, 2R, 2B, RBI, SB
The Red Wings led 5-2 after three innings, but a nine-run 4th would prove to be enough as the Bisons held them off, 12-11. Robert Gsellman got the spot start and let in two runs on four hits and a walk over three innings. The loss went to Tim Cate, who retired just two of 11 batters faced, allowing the aforementioned nine runs on a six hits, including a grand slam and an Earl Weaver special. Rochester drew 10 walks (three by Darren Baker) and marched to 12-hit parade, with James Wood, Juan Yepez, and Erick Mejia with two each with five runs and four RBI combined. Roster moves: RHP Joan Adon optioned from Washington; C Drew Millas recalled to Washington.
Altoona 9 Harrisburg 8
• Cuevas 4⅓ IP, 5H, 4R, 4ER, 2BB, 4K, WP
• Alston (L, 0-1) 1IP, 3H, 4R, 4ER, 3BB, 1K, 2-2 IR-S
• Pinckney 3-5, 2R, 2-2B,
• Senzel 2-3, R, RBI
• Witt 2-4, R, HR, 3RBI, E
Harrisburg’s offense continues to roll. Unfortunately, the pitching remains AWOL as the Curve outslugged the Sens, 9-8. Starter Michael Cuevas got knocked from the box with one out in the 5th as he was charged with four runs on five hits and two walks. He struck out four. The loss went to Garvin Alston as let in both inherited runners along with four runs of his own as the first man out of the ‘pen. Andrew Pinckney led the Harrisburg hit column with a single and two doubles while Paul Witt drove in three on a single and two-run HR to pace the Sens offense.
Wilmington 6 Aberdeen 2
• Theophile (W, 1-0) 5IP, 2H, 0R, 1BB, 3K
• Grissom (H, 2) 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 3K
• Made 2-4, R, BB, 2B, RBI, 2K
• Boisserie 2-4, 2B, RBI
• McKenzie 2-4, 2K
A two-run 5th broke open a 1-0 game as the Blue Rocks tripled up the IronBirds, 6-2. Rodney Theophile tossed five scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out three to pick up the win. Kevin Made and Branden Boisserie both went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI to lead the Wilmington attack.
Fredericksburg 14 Lynchburg 8
• B. Sanchez 2⅓ IP, 2H, 2R, 2ER, 3BB, 1K, BK
• S. Vazquez (W, 1-0) 1⅔ IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 3K, HR, 2-1 IR-S
• Polanco (H, 1) 3IP, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB, 0K
• Vaquero 2-4, 2R, 2BB, 3B, HR, 4RBI
• Cruz 2-3, R, BB, 2RBI
• Dugas 2-5, 2R, BB, 2B, RBI
• Glasser 2-6, 2R, HR, RBI
Fredericksburg wasted no time in administering a paternity test to Lynchburg, scoring ten runs in the top of the 1st en route to a 14-8 win to stay unbeaten in ’24. Starter Bryan Sanchez didn’t make it out of the 3rd, needing 52 pitches to get seven out as he was charged with two runs on two hits and three walks. Samuel Vasquez was awarded the win despite letting in one of two and givng up two runs on four hits (one HR) over an inning and 2/3rds. John McHenry was the beer man in the 12-hit assault, led by Crithian Vaquero with a single, two walks, one HR, and four RBI.
Funny that the biggest snubs out of ST are all now in DC (Young, Lipscomb and Millas). How long they stay there is another question…
Interesting to see Senzel now start ahead of Morales. The org sure seems intent on giving Senzel as much playing time as possible.
Lastly, this FNats team really packs an unexpected offensive punch. The top 3 in the line up currently sport OPS’s of 1.346, 1.218 and .994! Vaquero’s bat isn’t entirely surprising, though the seemingly new-founded power is a welcome development. The two with the 4 digits OPSs are. Dugas and Glasser were two way-underslot top 10 picks from last year’s draft. Glasser finished last season on a high note in A ball with a .421/.476/.526 slash, but he’s raised that to another level this season, currently batting .462/.500/.846. While Dugas had a professional debut to forget, his line of .471/.571/.647 is impressive, even if it’s only 4 games. Both players were drafted as glove-first MIFs, though Dugas inconsistently flashed power.
But with both of them in their age 24 seasons, they should be long for low A ball. And with Wilmington collectively hitting .208/.289/.296, it shouldn’t be too hard to find a way to fit them in, except there’s a bit of a MIF backlog there too with Brown, Pena, Infante, and Made all vying for playing time.
Vaquero’s fourth homer as a professional! (And I’m thinking one was inside the park.) He still needs to grow into that power that his body seems to promise. Glad he’s off to a good start.
Dugas was not drafted “glove-first.” He had some monster seasons at the plate in the midst of the ferocious LSU lineup (17 and 19 HRs) but was one who was said that his best defensive position was DH. He’ll turn 24 next month so likely will be moved up quickly.
Morales is off to a very slow start, and parachuting in Senzel to take away some of his ABs isn’t helping. But it’s early, and it’s still cold.
Morales is being asked to play a new position and I doubt he often played in 40 degree temps. Senzel will be gone in the blink of an eye and so will the cold. let’s hope he gets on track
Senzel is only in the minors because he’s on a rehab assignment. I don’t think that a few days of giving starts to a guy on a rehab assignment is worth getting spun up about.
The more curious thing to me is the juggling of both Morales and House between 3B and 1B. I do understand that there’s no guarantee that both are going to “make it,” and that it’s more valuable defensively to have them 3B-capable. Maybe they’re planning to promote House soon and then keep Morales at 3B at AA. I don’t know. The supposition we’ve heard is that Morales would move to 1B if/when he makes the majors, but there have also been some continued concerns that House would “outgrow” 3B. Stay tuned . . .
Way to go Rodney Throphile .5
Cuevas almost got through 5
Subway bringing back their 5 $ footlong ?
MZ reported Millas was already optioned back. hope he likes airplane food.
bats bats everywhere. tonight some of the more reliable arms take the bump plus a 19 year old making his debut. Alvarez was impressive in his opener, he’s trying to do what Cate couldn’t.
Fred MD yes a nice 4-11 ( FYI ) night for pitchers to follow
Some of us old Salts have been conditioned ( not me ) for athletes to fill into their bodies whether naturally or with the “ enhanced “ 666 methods dating back to Bonds / McGuire / Canseco / Lyle Alzado
CV will be fine as wine in time